GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The Carroll College women rode a big fourth quarter and stifling defense to earn a 55-43 key conference road win at the University of Great Falls Saturday evening.
 
After a strong start, the Saints led by eight with 2:20 left in the third quarter but  the Argos closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to cut the Carroll lead to 36-35.
 
The fourth quarter started with little offense but the Saints finally got on the board with 7:14 left on a 3-pointer by Baylee Watson, part of her 11 points. The shot sparked a 12-0 run that spanned four minutes and put the game squarely in the hands of the Saints.
 
The Argos couldn't find a response to the Carroll run and the Saints rolled to the 55-43 win.
 
"I'm really proud of our team tonight. We have just kept battling and they have stuck together," head coach Rachelle Sayers said. "To lose four games by a total of 10 points is heartbreaking. They showed a lot of character and fight tonight. This team won't give up. Our conference is the best women's basketball conference in the nation right now, we just have to stay positive and take it one game at a time."
 
Carroll was 21-48 (43.8 percent) from the field while holding UGF to 18-61 (29.5 percent). The Saints tallied 17 assists on 21 made shots.
 
Hannah Dean led the Saints with 14 points, Cassidy Hashley scored 12 and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, Watson added 11.
 
The win is the second in three games for the Saints. Carroll is now 14-6 on the year and 4-6 in Frontier play. The Saints currently sit in fifth place in the Frontier standings but meet fourth-place Montana Tech Thursday in Helena.
 
Saturday's game ended the most difficult road swing of conference play for Carroll. The Saints now have five of their next six games at home before closing out the season with two games on the road.